US2487025A - Reclosing circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 1, 1949 G. A. MATTHEWS mscwsme cmcum BREAKER 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 1944 Ell I.

Nov. 1, 1949 s. A. MATTHEWS RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12, 1944 Wal Nov. 1, 1949 G. A. MATTHEWS RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 12, 1944 flu 0c nfoz'.

Straw Aim EEEEEEEEE 17 Nov. 1, 1949 G. A. MATTHEWS 2,487,025

RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Feb. 12, 1944 a Sheets-Sheet 4 JIWC'H You;

8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. l, 1949 c; A MATTHEWS RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Feb 12, .1944

Nov. 1, 1949 s. A. MATTHEWS RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 12 1944 am w 6 m m H 6 fl, a M Q G A MATTHEWS RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER Nov. 1, 1949 Flled Feb 12, 1944 NOV. 1, 1949 MATTHEWS 2,487,025

RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Feb. 12, 1944 8 heets-Sheet 8 Paten ed N v- 1. 1949 2,487,025

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER George A. Matthews. Detroit, Mich., asaignor to The Detroit Edison Company, Detroit, Micln, a corporation of New York Application February 12, 1944, Serial No. 522,120

41 Claims. 1

This invention relates to circuit breakers and particularly to single-pole reclosing circuit breakers capable of an initial opening without time delay for clearing transient faults without damage or blowing of fuses, and a preselected number of time delay openings to blow fuses or to burn faults clear, and lockout in the event that the fault cannot be cleared otherwise.

The initial opening of this new and novel breaker is accomplished in 4 cycles at 150 percent full load current and thence progressively faster to 2 cycles at 500 percent full load, beyond which the 2 cycles prevails. The time delayed openings are accomplished in a selective time range for a long time as seconds to a short time as 10 cycles. All time is referred to a 60 cycle system unless stated otherwise.

An object of the invention is to provide reclosing circuit breakers of the series-current cperated typethat do not overheat and that do not "hum when subjected for long periods to overloads approximating their preselected tripping values. An object is to provide a reclosing circuit breaker containing an opening mechanism with an inverse time-current characteristic, the mechanism being adjustable to alter the time-current or, alternatively, to substitute a definite time characteristic that is independent of the particular value of the overload current. An object is to provide a reclosing circuit breaker in which the time delay mechanisms for controlling the opening and the reclosing of the breaker have a common timing unit which provides timing independently of the breaker opening or closing forces. Other objects are to provide reclosing circuit breakers including a series-coil and armature for opening the circuit breaker, and a lockout element that is advanced by a control relay having contacts that normally shunt the line current around the series-coil. A further object is to provide a circuit breaker having a series current operating coil that is normally shunted by the contacts of a control relay, and a pilot relay in series in the line, the pilot relay having normally closed contacts for shuntin the control relay. Another object is to provide a reclosing circuit breaker including, as last stated, a series-current operating coil and cascaded relays for opening a shunt connection across the operating coil, and mechanism including an adjustable speed timing device for imparting an inverse time-current characteristic to the circuit breaker, the timing device being adjusted by one of the relays.

These and other objects, and the advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following specification when taken with the accompanylng drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the essential elements of a reclosing circuit breaker embodying the invention, illustrating the relative positions of elements in breaker at closed position;

Fig. 2 illustrates the relative positions of the elements of the breaker during the power interrupting operation just prior to complete interruption of the current at the power contacts;

Fig. 2a is a fragmentary side elevation of the ratchet wheel and associated pawls of the timing mechanism, the ratchet wheel being illustrated in the position to which it is advanced by the control relay during the time interval between first opening and first reclosure:

' Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the locked-out position of the circuit breaker;

Fig. 4 is a, schematic view illustrating the manually operated handle latched in open position to reset the timing and control device to allow the closure of the circuit breaker after lockout;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a circuit breaker embodying the invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section, on a larger scale, of the lower terminal element and the main breaker contacts;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the circuit breaker as seen from the right side of Fig. 5, with the easing shown in substantially central section and the control mechanism omitted for a clearer illustration of the supporting structure and the electrical elements;

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary side elevations of the supporting structure and electrical elements as seen from the left and right, respectively, of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation of the supporting structure and electrical elements as seen from the rear of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, of control apparatus shown at the upper portion of Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the upper portion of the circuit breaker as seen from the side opposite that illustrated in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side elevation, with I parts of the circuit breaker omitted, 0f the timing mechanism, control relay armature and associated control elements as shown in Fig. 11; Figs. 14 and 15 are sectional and side elevations, respectively, of the shunting switch;

Figs. 16 and 17 are a front elevation and a vertical section, respectively, of the variable speed escapement of the timing mechanism;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary front elevation of the same illustrating the parts as adjusted for high speed operation; and

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary side elevation, with parts spread for clarity, of the manually operable spring mechanism for adjusting the inverse time characteristic of the circuit breaker.

The mechanical elements and their cooperation in the novel circuit breakers may be best understood by first considering the electrical elements as shown in circuit diagrams superposed upon the structural elements in Figs. 1 to 4 inelusive.

The electrical circuit may be traced through the circuit breaker, when in normal closed position as shown in Fig. 1, through lead a from an upper terminal to coil P of a pilot relay, jumper b and the normally closed contacts of the pilot relay, lead d and flexible jumper e to the plunger I that carries an arcing contact 2 and main contact 3, to the resilient contacts 4 of the lower circult breaker terminal. A lead 1 extends from the pilot relay coil P to one end of the coil C of a control relay, and lead g connects the other end of coil C to the junction of one end 0 of the series-current opening coil 0 and a lead h to the normally closed switch 1'. of the control relay C. The other terminal 0' of coil 0 is connected to the flexible jumper e, and a normally closed path is shunted across the opening coil 0 by a lead It from the other side of the switch 1 to the flexible jumper e.

The plunger or switch rod I is secured to the armature 5 of the opening coil 0, and is urged towards breaker-closed position by a coil spring 6 that surrounds the plunger I and is seated between the base of the hollow armature 5 and the upper plate I of the core structure of'the opening coil. The lower plate 8 has an integral or attached cylindrica1 flange 3 with a slightly conical inner wall for cooperation with a disk or radial flange ID on the armature 5 to form a dashpot for dissipating the kinetic energy of the armature and plunger assembly when lifted by energization of opening coil 0. I

The line current flows through the coil P of the pilot relay and, when it rises to some preselected overload value, the relay armature is attracted and the relay contacts 0 open, thereby diverting the overload current through the control relay coil C. The armature of the control relay is attracted to open the relay-actuated switch i immediately or after a time-delay, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. The overload current then flows through the seriescurrent openingcoil O, and its armature is attracted to move the main-contact 3 and arcing contact 2 away from the stationary contacts 4. The resulting arc is quickly suppressed by a de-ionizing system, similar to that described in my copending application Ser. No. 439,576, filed April 18, 1942, which issued as Patent No. 2,443,- 620 on June 15, 1948 that includes an arbor wound horn fibre rod or sleeve II movable with and projecting below the arcing. contact 2. The various elements are shown in Fig. 2 in their positions at the instant of opening of the circuit breaker, i. e. before. the contacts 0 of the pilot relay P reclose as a result of current interruption by the breaker. The contacts 0 of the pilot relay are closed at once by a spring, as described more fully hereinafter, and, to prevent pumping, the

4 control relay switch i must close before the main breaker contacts reclose.

The mechanical construction and the operating characteristics of the control system of the circuit breaker will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 in which, for greater clarity, some of the parts are not shown in the positions that they occupy in the circuit breaker. The timing mechanism, identified generally by character T, is brought into operation following the initial opening of the circuit breaker, and it controls the reclosing action and the subsequent time-delayed openings in the event of a persistent fault on the line. The ratchet wheel I2 of the timing mechanism is urged counterclockwise by a spring, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, to seat against a stop when the smooth rim section I2 of the wheel is beneath the opening timing pawl I3. This pawl is rocked clockwise by a link I4 whose lower end is connected to a link I5 that is pivoted upon the shaft I6 of the control relay armature IT. The armature I1 is moved clockwise, against a restoring spring I8, upon energization of the control relay but the link I5 does not move as a unit with armature IT. The link I5 normally rests upon and is urged by spring I5 towards a stop pin I9 on armature I1, and the link therefore follows the movement of armature IT as rapidly as is permitted by the timing mechanism. A reclosing timing pawl 20 is connected by link 2I to the outer end of link I5, and is moved counterclockwise to slip over the teeth of ratchet wheel I2 when the link I5 is depressed upon an opening of the circuit breaker. Pawls I3 and 20 are released from the ratchet wheel I2 by stops '23, 24 respectively when the links I4, 2I are in their upper normal positions, as shown in Fi 1.

A second link 25 is pivoted on shaft I6 and urged towards the stop pin I9 by a spring 26, the outer end of link 25 being connected to an armof a T-shaped lever 21 that has a second arm connected through link 28 to the movable member 29 of the shunting switch 1'. The lever 21 is normally latched to prevent opening of the shunting switch by the engagement of the tail of lever 3I with a roller 32 on the third arm of the T-shaped lever 21, the lever 3I being held in latching position by a toggle 33-34 that is retained in over-center position against a stop by aspring 34'. The link I4 that drives the opening timing pawl I3 has a lug I4 for engagement with the toggle pin to break the toggle 33-34 thereby to rock the latching lever 3| clockwise to clear the roller 32 and release the lever 21 for actuation by the link 28 to open the shunting switch i.

The mechanism for latching the circuit breaker in open position upon the interruption of current flow through the opening coil 0 includes ratchet teeth 35 on the plunger I for engagement by a latch pawl 36 on the end of a relatively long latch lever 31 that ispivoted close to the plunger I and rocked into and out of latching position by a'toggle comprising the link 38 and the end of w an L-shaped lever 39 that extends upwardly along the switch-actuating lever 21 for movement into released position, against the force exerted by spring 40, by a projection M of the lever 21.

The lockout mechanism comprises a wheel 42 in the timing mechanism that rotates clockwise with the ratchet wheel I2 as it is advanced by the pawls 20 and I3, the wheel 42 having a series of ratchet teeth 43 for engagement by the pawl or tip of a lever 44 that is urged toward the lockout wheel 42 by a spring 45. A pin 43 on the pawl or lever 44 is engaged by an insulating material lever 41 that is rocked by the tail of the pilot relay armature 48 to release the lockout pawl if the ratchet teeth 43 are moved into line with the lookout pawl 44 by the rotation of ratchet wheel I2 by pawl I3, 1. e. during a clockwise drive of the timing mechanism to effect an opening of the circuit breaker. If the interlock lever 41 were not provided, a lookout condition of the timing mechanism might occur during the clockwise movement of ratchet gear [2 being urged by "opening-timing pawl I3 during an opening operation of the breaker. Such an improper lockout would constitute a locked closed breaker. The lockout pawl or lever 44 has an insulating material extension 43 that projects into the path of a pin 53 on the plunger I when the latter is lifted manually, to open the circuit or to reset the control mechanism after a lookout, by the lever II that has a forked end fitted over the pin 50. A pivoted latch 52 engages a pin 53 on the manual operating' and resetting lever 5I to hold the circuit breaker in open position and with the lookout pawl 44 released, see Fig. 4.

The mechanism for imparting an inverse timecurrent characteristic includes a speed regulating armature 55 of the pilot relay that is differentially rocked, in accordance with the current through the pilot relay coil P, to compress the speed calibrating spring 58 and displace the link 51 to rock the speed regulating arm 58 clockwise. The construction of the variable escapement mechanism for controlling the speed at which the ratchet wheel I2 is advanced by the opening timing pawl ill will be described hereinafter. So far as concerns the following description of the method of operation, it can be assumed that clockwise rotation of the speed regulating arm 58, with increasing current flow through the pilot relay coil P, results in a higher operating speed of the escapement system and therefore in a shorter delay between the initial downward movement of pawl I3 and link I4, and the breaking of the toggle 33-34 by projection I4 to unlatch the shunting switch i.

With all parts in normal positions, as shown in Fig. 1, corresponding to a closed condition of the circuit breaker, an increase in line current above a preselected value results in the movement of the pilot relay armature 43 to open the contacts 0, thereby connectin the coil C of the control relay in series in the line. Armature I1 of the control relay is drawin in, and the springs I 5' and 26 are thereby stressed to urge the links I5 and 25 clockwise. The initial downward movementof link I4 by link I5 brings the pawl I3 into engagement with the ratchet wheel I2, but at the smooth periphery section I2 of the latter. The ratchet wheel I2 and associated escapement mechanism therefore impose no load or time delay upon the pawl I3 and the link I4 moves downwardly at high speed to force the projection I4 against the toggle pin of toggle 33-34 to break the toggle and move latch lever 3| away from the roller 32 of the switch operating lever 21. Spring 26 was stressedwhen the control relay armature I1 was drawn in and it moves the link 25 clockwise to rock lever 21 to lift the movable member 29 of the shunting switch 1'. The overload line current then flows through the opening coil to attract the arma-- ture 5 and lift the plunger I to open the circuit breaker contacts. The rocking of lever 21 moved the projection 4i away from the lever 33 and spring 43 rotated the lever to force the latching lever 31 towards the plunger I. The latch pawl 33 engages a tooth of the ratchet section 35 of plunger I to retain the plunger in elevated breaker-open position after the current in the opening coil 0 has reached zero. due to the opening of the main breaker contacts 2, 3 and 4. The upward movement of the plunger I varies somewhat with the magnitude of the overload current, and a series of ratchet teeth 35 are therefore provided on the plunger I to latch the same in approximately its maximum raised position.

The positions of the several controlelements at the instant of this initial opening of the main breaker contacts are illustrated in Fig. 2. The armature '43 of the pilot relay drops out at once but the resetting of armature I1 by its spring I3 is delayed by the engagement of stop pin II with the link I5 which, through link 2I and pawl 23 must rotate the ratchet wheel I2 of the timing mechanism T at a speed determined by the escapement mechanism. Upon sufllcient clockwise motion of the ratchet wheel I2 to release the pawl 20 by its engagement with the release roller 24, which may take place in 1 seconds or any other preselected interval, the movements of link I5 and armature I1 are unrestrained, and the stop pin I3 lifts the link 25 rapidly to rock the lever 21 to reclose the shunting switch i. Upon closure of switch i, the projection H of lever 21 strikes the latch-releasing lever 33 to rock the latch lever 31 and latch pawl 33 away from the plunger I, and spring 8 forces the armature 5 and plunger I downwardly to reclose the circuit breaker contacts 2, 3 and 4. The spring 8 is of sufficient strength to insure a quick reclosure. but the strength of the spring does not affect the opening or closing time-delay action of the timing mechanism T. The switch 1 h latched in closed position by the lever 3| by the toggle 33-34 that is thrown into overcenter position by the spring 34' as soon as the lever 21 is rocked into switch-closing position, it being noted that projection I4 of link I4 was lifted clear of the center Din of toggle 3334 before lever 21 reached its end position.

The ratchet wheel I2 of the timing mechanism is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2a just prior to the release of the "reclosing timing pawl 20, i. c. it was rotated clockwise during the interval prior to the first reclosure and the toothed section of the ratchet wheel was moved into position below the closing timing pawl I3. If the fault was of a transient nature and disappeared prior to the first reclosure, the breaker remains closed and the ratchet wheel I2 is rotated counterclockwise by the reset spring designated by the arrow, the spring being restrained by the escapement so as to gradually reset the timing mechanism to the normal condition illustrated in Fig. 1. Upon reclosure, should the fault be of such a nature that the flow of fault current is delayed short of the resetting interval, upon the flow of fault current the breaker operates to open the circuit in the same manner as if the fault current flowed at the instant the breaker reclosed. If the fault remains on the line and fault current flows on reclosure, the armature 48 of the pilot relay is again attracted to open the switch 0, and the second armature 55 is attracted to shift the link 51 to adjust the escapement of the timing mechanism T in accordance with the magnitude of the overload. The opening of the pilot switch the main breaker contacts.

7 c energizes the control relay C and armature draws in to stress the springs l and 26, thereby tending to rock the associated links I5, 25, respectively, clockwise to unlatch theswitch-operating lever 21 and to rock that lever to open the shunting switch 1. The movement of the link I5 is delayed, however, by the link l4 that can move downwardly only so rapidly as is permitted by the escapement devicethat restricts the rotation of ratchet wheel l2 by the pawl I3. This delay action is effective only up to the breaking of the toggle 3334 by the projection l4 of link M, and the shunting switch 2' is opened as soon as the lever 3| is rocked by the toggle to release the switch-operating lever 21. Energization of the series-current operating coil 0, by the opening of the shunting switch 1, results in an opening of The time-delayed reclosing as described above is then repeated and, if the fault is still on the line upon reclosure, another time-delayed opening results. The ratchet wheel I2 and lockout wheel 42 are advanced clockwise during the inter-' val that precedes the first reclosure, and during subsequent cycles of opening and reclosure, and

the circuit breaker is eventually locked out in open position after a preselected number of reclosures that eflect a suflicient clockwise advance "of-the wheel 42 to bring its ratchet teeth 43 into position for engagement by the pawl 44. This lockout condition of the apparatus is illustrated in Fig. 3. The pilot relay armature 48 drops out at once but the control relay armature I1 is arrested short of its full release position by the engagement of the stop pin l9 with the link |5 which is blocked against lifting as the locked ratchet wheel l2 and pawl 20 prevent the lifting of link 2|. The restoring spring I8 of armature imposes a clockwise torque on the ratchet wheel |2,'tnreugh the link 2| and pawl20, that prevents the resetting of the ratchet wheel by the spring of the timing mechanism.

- To reclose the breaker from the lockout positiori. the plunger is lifted manually to its fully open position by inserting a switch hook stick in the eye of the lever 5| and pulling the lever down to'engage the hook latch 52 over the pin 53. The pin 50 on plunger I engages the tail 49 of the lockout pawl 44 and rocks the pawl out of engagement.

with the ratchet teeth. The several parts of the control mechanism are in the positions illustrated in Fig. 4 when the lever 5| is latched down. The reclosing timing" pawl 20 drives the ratchet wheel l2 clockwise under the pressure arising from the resetting spring l8 of the control relay armature I1, and the pawls l3 and 20 are released from the ratchet wheel |2 when the links M and 2| reach their upper positions. The shunting switch i is reclosed and latch pawl 36 is withdraw-n during this clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel I2 by pawl 20, but the main breaker contacts do not reclose upon the release of the latch 36 as the plunger is held in fully raised position by the latched lever 5|. The ratchet wheel I2 is rotated counterclockwise into reset position by the timing mechanism spring designated by the arrow as soon as the pawls l3 and 20 are released from the ratchet wheel |2. After a 8 Fig. 5, is a single-pole oil-insulated circuit breaker of relatively small size and light weight that is well adapted for mounting on a pole of an electrical distribution system. The enclosure for the breaker comprises a porcelain tank or hollow insulator I, a cylindrical metal flange 59 cemented to the upper end of the porcelain tank, and a dome or cover 60 that is bolted to the flange 59. A metal sleeve 60' is secured to the inner edge of the flange 59 and extends downwardly into the oil to promote the transfer of heat from the oil to flange 59 and dome 60. One line-terminal 6| is carried by the dome 50, and the other line-' terminal 62 has a cylindrical mounting sleeve 63 that extends through a central aperture in the lower wall of the tank I to receive the clamp nut 64. The arm 5| is pivotally mounted on the dome 60, and all other parts of the circuit breaker are a unitary assembly that is supported on the flange 59, as will be explained hereinafter.

As shown in the enlarged fragmentary view, Fig. 6, the stationary contacts 4 are carried by the several strips 55' of a longitudinally slotted cylinder 65 that is threaded into threaded bushing 66 which is threaded into the flanged sleeve 66 that is bolted to the lower insulating disk 51 of the arc interruption chamber assembly and engages the inner turnof the arc-gyrating coil the lower end of the cylinder 65 and projects below the stationary contact assembly to seat within the counterbore of the lower terminal 62. A set screw 1| is threaded into a cross-bore of the terminal 52 to establish a good electrical connection, and the cross-bore is sealed against leakage of oil by a washer and stud 12.

The greater part of the control mechanism has been omitted from the skeleton" views, Figs. '7 to 10, for the clearer illustration of the supporting structure and the several electrical elements and their connections. The control mechanism base 14 is a casting of non-magnetic material having a substantially central opening through which the upper end of the plunger extends, and an apertured disk 14 of insulating material, shown in Fig. 12, is secured to the base to guide the plunger. The base 14 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced and apertured ears 15 that rest upon and are bolted to supporting lugs 16 that project inwardly from the metal collar or time interval for these resetting operations, the

breaker may be reclosed by tripping the hook latch 52 to free the lever 5|, thereby permitting a reclosing movement of the plunger by the,

spring 6. A preferred structural embodiment of the in vention, as illustrated in longitudinal section in flange 59. A pair of heavy plates 11 of insulating material suspend the opening coil assembly below the base 14, the plates being secured by screws to flanges on the lower face of the base 14 and on the upper face of the magnetic material plate I. A split sleeve 18 of magnetic material surrounds the opening coil 0 and seats against the magnetic end plates 1, 8. A plurality of tie rods 19 connect the plates of the opening coil assembly, and insulating material tie rods and metal fittings 8|, 8| form extensions of the metal tie rods 19 to support the arc-extinguishing chamber below the opening coil assembly. Insulating material-tubes 19' are slipped over the tie rods 19 adjacent the shunting switch i to avoid flashover from the leads connected to the switch. An apertured spacing cylinder 82 of insulating material is arranged between the lower face of the plate 8 and the upper insulating disk 88 or the arc-extinguishing chamber.

The arc-extinguishing system, shown in Figures and 6 including the arc-gyrating coil 68, is similar to that described in my copendingapplication Ser. No. 439,576, filed April 18, 1942, but includes a renewable horn fibre sleeve 84 that is recessed into the upper renewable annulus 85 and the upper disk 83 for increased protection and sealing of disks 83 and 83' as well as to provide an inexpensive renewable piece for restoring the bore diameter of the tube to the most advantageous size, relative to follower ll, after the bore has been increased by erosion resulting from the interrupting action. Insulating material bolts 86 secure the upper arcing contact 81, which is the terminus of the arc-gyrating coil 68, to the insulator disk assembly. The plunger l and movable contacts 2, 3 are guided for axial movement by the spring pressure of the contacts 4 on the horn fibre extension II and by a sleeve 88 that is socured to the plate 8 and extends upwardly within. the coil 0 to guide the armature I.

In Figures 7-10, the electrical circuit from the upper line terminal 6| to thepilot coil P is through the domed cover 60, the metal flange 88, the control mechanism base ll, one of the flanges 88 that depend below the plate H to support the laminated core 89' of the control coil C, and the strap a to which the upper end of coil P is soldered. Coil P comprises a few turns of rectangular conductor that, to facilitate winding, is formed by a plurality of bars of rectangular cross-section. The lower end of the coil P is turned downwardly and then laterally to constitute the lead f that extends to the outer terminal of the control coil C. The flexible jumper connection b is bolted to terminal 88 of the movable contact of contact 0, and bolted to lead I at the point where lead [turns laterally.

The lead d from the stationary member of the pilot contacts 0 and the lead R: from one contact of the shunting switch i are flat straps, see Figs. 7 and 8, bolted together and connected, through a jumper strap :1, to the junction of the upper terminal 0' of the opening coil 0 and strap e. Strap e extends upwardly to the heavy rod conductor e" that is supported on and insulated from the control mechanism base 14. The central part of a flexible cable or jumper e is swaged and soldered in a block on the plunger I, and both ends of the cable are secured to the upper end of the rod conductor e". A plurality of rings 1 of insulating material are slipped over the cable e,

see Fig. 12, to insulate it from the dome and the adjacent parts of the control mechanism that, being mounted on the control mechanism base 14, have the potential of the upper line terminal 6|. Lead g is a heavy wire or conductor that extends from the inner terminal of the control coil C. to the junction of the lower terminal 0 of the opening coil 0 and the strap lead h from the normally closed shunting switch 1.

The control coil C is a spiral winding of a flat or ribbon conductor, and the opening coil 0 is of composite form with single pancake winding at the upper end of a multilayer helical winding. The opening coil 0 is designed for a pick-up value substantially less than the pick-up value of the control coil C, and the control coil is designed for a pick-up value substantially less than that of the pilot coil P. Diflerentials of about 10% will preclude an incomplete operation of the breaker.

The entire breaker mechanism, except for the lower terminal 82 and the manually operated 10 handle BI and associated part, is supported on or by the control mechanism base 14 and is removable as a unitary assembly. All coils and their associated switch contacts are below the oil level, and heat is dissipated at a relatively rapid rate by the metal sleeve 60' that dips into the oil and is secured to the metal flange 58. A combined filler opening and vent 8| is formed in the domed cover 60, and a partition wall is cast within the cover to provide an oil arresting chamber between the interior of the breaker and filler vent opening. The arresting chamber is filled with aggregate for providing many surfaces for oil adherence during the venting of an interrupting operation of the breaker. The bottom of the chamber contains a plurality of holes for connection to the inside of the breaker proper and through which the collected oil returns to v the breaker. An open-bottom housing, in Figure 5, for the manual operating arm ii and for a counter mechanism 92 is formed by a cast extension 93 of the domed cover, and side plate 83. The side plate may carry legends Closed" and Open, not shown, for cooperation with the ring end of the arm 5| to indicate the condition of the main breaker contacts.

The actual construction of the control mechanism is illustrated in the enlarged scale assembly and fragmentary views, Figs. 11 to 13. The general arrangement and the cooperation of the various elements will be apparent from the foregoing description of the schematic views, Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and the following description will deal only with those auxiliary devices and details that were not shown in the schematic views.

The inverted U-shaped core of the pilot coil P is mounted between outer plates 94 that are supported from one of the insulating plates 11 by screws 95, and the coil P is held in place by a non-magnetic angle strip 94 that is bolted to an outer plate 94, the strip being wrapped with tape or otherwise insulated, as indicated by the stippling, where it engages the coil P. A pair of levers 96 are pivotally supported on the plates 84 by a shaft 91 and carry the L-shaped armature and a pin 98 that extends through the looped end of the arm 99 that carries the movable member of the pilot contacts 0. Arm 89 is pivoted on the plates 94 and is held in contactclosed position by the spring Hill. The pilot contacts are therefore snapped open by a sharp blow of the pin 98 on arm 99 as the armature nears its fully attracted position. This loosely coupled arrangement prevents chattering of contacts o as the pick-up value of pilot coil P is neared. The stationary contact is mounted on an arm llll that is bolted, together with the lead d, to a plate or lug I82 that is integral with or, as shown, welded to the upper plate 1 of the opening coil assembly. The potential of the structural parts of the pilot relay differs from that of the control mechanism base 14 by the voltage drop across the pilot coil P, and the control mechanisms that extend between the pilot coil assembly towards the base 14 therefore include sections of insulating material.

A coil spring I03 extends from the upper ends of the contact operating levers 96 to a threaded stem I08 that extends through a lug on the base 14 and may be adjusted axially by thumbnut I05 to determine the pull-in value of the pilot coil P. The interlock bar or lever 41 is pivotally mounted on the base 14 and has an elongated slot in its lower end to receive the pin that secures the spring I03 to the levers 96.

. movement is permitted by the clockwise The auxiliary or speed-regulating armature 55 of the pivot coil is pivoted on the side plates 34 and extends over an air gap between the auxiliary core 55' and the main core of the pilot coil P. A shield plate I06 of insulating material is secured to the core 55 and extends downwardly between the pilot coil contacts and the control coil 0.

The laminated core 89, shown in Fig. 10, of the control coil is secured by rivets between the depending flanges 89 of the base 14, and the pivot pin I6 of armature I1 and links I5, 25 is mounted in the flanges. The armature I1 is mounted between two strips I1a, no that are symmetrically disposed at opposite sides of the plunger I, and the resetting springs Ilia, IBb are connected between the mounting strips and threaded stems IOBa, I08b that extend through the base 14 to receive adjusting thumbnuts I09a, I09b. Spring 26 is connected between strip I1b and the link 25, and spring I is connected between the strip Ma and the link I5. The upper end of the spring I5 is anchored on a saddle H0 that is slidable along the link I5 for adjustment of the pull exerted upon the link I4 to drive the timing mechanism T. As shown in Fig. l3,"an adjusting screw III extends through the saddle H0 and is threaded into a block H2 that is welded to the link I5. Upward movement of the link I5 is limited by an adjustable stop screw H3 that is threaded through the base 14, and downward movement is limited by an adjustable stop screw H4 on a bracket arm H5 that is secured to and depends below the base 14. Another adjustment that is not shown in the schematic views is provided by the stop screw 4I' that is threaded into the projection M of with the insulating material tip 39' of lever 39 that moves the latch pawl 36 outof operative position.

The spring 34 of the toggle 33-34 is coiled about the fixed pivot pin of the member 34, and urges the member 34 counterclockwise, Fig. 12, to carry the members 33, 34 somewhat beyond alined position, the overthrow being limited by an adjustable stop screw IIB that is threaded through the base 14 for engagement by the toggle pin. The spring 34 rocks the latch 3| outwardly into operative position as rapidly as that rotation of the switch-operating lever 21, and the rotation of lever 21 is controlled by link 2I, pawl 20 and the timing device T until the pawl 20 is released from the ratchet wheel I2. The remainder of the switch-closing movement of lever 21 then takes place rapidly under the force exerted by springs I811, I81), and the link 28 .is forced downwardly to close the switch i. The upper 'pivot pin of the link 28 has a limited range of movement in a slot in the depending leg of the lever 21, and a compression spring H1 within the depending leg bears on the pivot pin urging it downwardly. This compression spring H1 provides contact pressure for control contacts i and maintains sufiicient contact pressure as the contact surfaces are worn away by the duty imposed upon them. A further use of spring H1 is to provide a resilient link in the toggle linkage, composed of depending leg of lever 21 and contact actuating links 28.

As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the insulating material operator 29 of the switch i carries the selfaligning movable contact H8 that bridges the fixed contacts H9, I20 in the closed position of the switch. A strip I2I of horn fibre is mounted lever 21 for engagement on and depends below the movable contact H8 to insure a double break and to prevent a direct arcing between the fixed contacts upon the opening of the switch. That is, the circuit is opened and the'resulting arcs are drawn from the stationary contact arcing pads on H3 and I20 to the two cooperating arcing pads on the moving contact H0. The angle of these contact pads is such that the force exerted by compression spring H1 (Fig. 12) is equal to each of the resulting contact pressures at the contact making surfaces. That is, a spring force of 20 pounds exerted by spring H1 results in 20 pounds contact pressure at each or the contact making surfaces of the moving contact H8 and stationary contacts H9 and I20. The contacts H9, I20 are mounted in a flat rectangular switch casing of insulating material comprising side plates I22 between which blocks I23 are clamped to provide a pressure chamber of relatively small volume that is open at the bottom. The contact I I9 is soldered to the lead k that extends upward- Iy along the casing and is secured to one of the insulating blocks.

The coil I24 01 a magnetic blowout system (not shown in the schematic views) is connected between the switch contact I20 and the lead it from the inner terminal of the control coil C. Integral cylindrical sleeve I20 of the contact I20 projects beyond the sides of the casing and is electrically connected by straps I25 to'the ends of a copper bushing I28 within the tubular soft steel core I21 of the magnetic system. The pole pieces I28 extend upwardly along the exterior of the casing to terminate adjacent the switch contacts, the pole pieces being beneath the straps I25 and insulated from the outer edges of the turns of the coil I24 by sheets of insulation I29. The coil I24 comprises a few turns of a bare cop per strip with an interleaved strip of insulation, and the end I24 of the outer turn is bent upwardly for attachment to the edge of the casing. A shield sheet I30 of insulating material is secured to'the upper inner face of the switch assembly and extends downwardly between the switch assembly and the casing 18 of the opening coil. The switch is secured by screws I3I to a fiangeI32 that is integral with or welded to the upper plate I of the opening coil assembly.

The timing mechanism T is mounted between a pair of plates I33, I34 that are secured to flanges at the upper surface of the base 14. A shaft I35 is pivotally supported by the plates I33, I34 with its ends projecting beyond the plates. The ratchet wheel I2 is secured to the end of shaft I35 outside of the plate I34, see Figs. 5 and 12. The ratchet wheel I2 is preferably notched around its entire periphery to simplify manufacture and/or permit the use of standard ratchet wheels, and the smooth surface for eliminating delay in the initial opening of the breaker is provided by a segment I2 that is riveted to the wheel I2 to block the pawl I3 from engagement with the adjacent teeth of the wheel I2.

A spiral spring I36 at the outer face of the plate I33 is anchored to the other end of the shaft I35, and the outer end of the spring is secured to a stud I36 that is threaded into the plate I33. A reset stop plate I31 is mounted on the projecting end of the shaft I35 outside of the spring I36, the stop plate being pinned to the shaft by a hub I31 and having a projecting lug that cooperates with a stop stud I38 on plate I33. The lockout wheel 42 is adjustably secured tothe reset stop plate I31 by screws I39 that pass through arcuate slots in the wheel 42. Lockout wheel 42 is adjusted to obtain the desired angularrelation between the normal or reset position Fig. 1 and the lockout position Fig. 3 to which it is progressivel advanced by the preselected number of automatic operations as described earher.

The escapement mechanism or the timing device is illustrated on an enlarged scale in Figs. 16 to 18. The escapement mechanism includes elements adjustable in accordance with the magnitude of the fault current to control the speed of the escapement to efl'ect inverse current-time delayed openings of the breaker but these variable speed elements are not involved in the reclosing of the breaker. The reclosing time is adjustable manually but it is not affected by the fault current in the illustrated embodiment of the invention. The anchor pin for closing timing pawl release roller 24, in Figure 12, is slidable in timer plate I54. By adjusting the anchor pin downwardly the time interval preceding automatic reclosing is shortened As shown in Fig. 11, the first gear I40 of the gear train that couples the ratchet wheel I2 to the escapement mechanism is secured to the shaft I 35, and the final gear, see Figs. 16 to 18, is a small pinion I on stub shaft I42, that, with a complementary stub shaft I42, supports an eccentrically mounted roller I43 in the slot of 2. Verge I44. The verge is supported for rocking movement by a pivot pin I45 on arm I45 of the speed regulating arm 58 that is pivoted on shaft I41 and has a pin I45 seated in the slotted end of the link 51. The lower end of the verge extends below the shaft I 49 of a flywheel I50 and carries a pin II that is normally located within a slot I52 in the lower part of the flywheel. The verge is flexibly coupled to the flywheel by a spring I53 that is coiled about the shaft I49 with its upper end fixed to the flywheel by a strap I54 and its lower endI53 extending freely through a hole in the shaft I5I' that is coaxial with the pin I5I. The arm I45 is normally retained in upper or slow speed position, see Fig. 16, by a spring I55 that is connected between the arm I45 and a slotted strap I55 that is adiustably anchored to the mounting plate I33. ,The range of displacement of the verge I44 by the link 51 and lever 55, I45 is such that the pin I5I may move out of slot I52 and below flywheel I50, see Fig. 18, and the oscillating stroke of the flywheel I50 under this condition is limited by the engagement of the flanged end of an arm I51, fixed to shaft I41, in the arcuate recess I55 in the upper part of the flywheel I50. The swing of the flywheel must be controlled or limited in order that the pin I 5I may move into the slot I52 of the flywheel when the arm I45 and the yoke I44 are moved upwardly by the spring I55 upon the opening of the breaker contacts and the resu1tant de-energization of the pilot coil P.

The oscillatory period of the escapement under the driving force exerted upon pinion MI by ratchet wheel I 2 and the gear train depends upon the location of the pin I5I with respect to the axis of the flywheel I50. The speed of oscillation of the flywheel is a minimum when the verge I44 is in the elevated position shown in Fig. 16. A maximum oscillation is imparted to the verge I 44 as the lever arm between the eccentric roller I43 and the pivot pin I45 of the verge has its minimum value. This maximum oscillation of the verge results in a maximum oscillation or throw of\the flywheel I50 as the lever arm between the ,IS a minimum. AS

pin I5! and the axis of shaft I40 of the flywheel the verse is moved downward by the link 51 and lever 55, I45, the lever arms become longer and the oscillations of the verge I44 and the flywheel I50 are correspondingly reduced, thereby increasing the speed of the shaft I42 and of the ratchet wheel I2 that drives the shaft I42 through the verge oscillation is shorter than that of the flywheel and the difference in these periods is absorbed by the flexible connection of. the verge and flywheel through the spring I53. Fault currents in excess of some preselected value result in the displacement of the pin I" and of the slot I52 of the flywheel I50. When this occurs. the oscillatory motion of the verge does not appreciably oscillate the flywheel I50 but rather flexes the spring I53. This relatively stationary condition of the flywheel, and corresponding maximum speed of shaft I 42, are due to the fact that the driving force of the roller I43 is sufficient to flex the spring I53 irrespective of the flywheel and at such a rate that the oscillatory movement of the verge is not transmitted to the flywheel. The escapement thus overruns when pin III is moved out of the flywheel recess and the same minimum delay is imposed for all excess currents above some selected value. For lower values at which the pin I 5| remains within the flywheel slot I52, the opening time varies inversely with the magnitude of the fault current.

The rocking movement of the auxiliary armature 55 of the pilot coil P, and thereby the adjustment of the variable escapement, is opposed by a manually adjustable spring system that is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 19. The tall or lever arm I50 of the armature 55 is of insulating material as the link 51 and the armature 55 are electrically connected to opposite ends of the pilot coil P. The adjustable spring system comprises a threaded rod I 5i pivoted to the insulating arm I50 and slidable through a bracket I52 secured to the upper surface of the supporting base 14, and a spring I53 between flanged spring seats or bushings I54 that are slidable on the rod and seated against the bracket I 62 and against a nonrotatable washer I55 that, in turn, is seated on a nut I55. As shown in Fig. 19, the washer I55 has a flat surface in engagement with the bracket I52, and a plurality of perforations for receiving a pin I51 on the nut I55. The nut I55 is normally locked against rotation by the engagement of the pin I 61 in one of the holes of the nonrotatable washer I 55, but the nut I55 may be rotated manually to regulate the effective spring strength by pressing the washer I55 upwardly to clear the pin I61. The rod IGI moves freely through a bushing I58 that is threaded into the supporting base 14 to cooperate with a second a secondary spring system which becomes operative when auxiliary armature 55 nears its cooperative pole pieces of the main core of coil P and auxiliary core 55'.

The time-delay mechanism can be readily adjusted to impart a definite time-delay characterthe adjustable nut I55, value that prevents movement of the speed-regulating armature 55 or, alternatively, by setting the speed-regulating armature 55 in the closed position with the escapement mechanism in the slow speed position. The nature 01' the power distribution circuit and the correlation of the the gear train. The period of 15 breaker to other protective equipment will determine the time-delay characteristic that is appropriate for the breaker. With the breaker adjusted for a definite time-delay, the time required for lockout is independent of the magnitude of the fault current.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 833,875, flied May 7, 1940, Apparatus for protecting power lines, which issued as Patent No. 2,352,556 on June 27, 1944; which patent was re-issued under No. 22,872 on April 29, 1947.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described but it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the illustrated embodiment and that various changes that may occur to those skilled in the art fall within the spirit of my invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A reclosing circuit breaker or theseriescurrent operated type comprising a pair of terminals for connection in the line to be protected, 9. pair of breaker contacts and an operating coil in a series circuit between said terminals, spring means normally retaining said breaker contacts in engagement, a magnetic system for said operating coil including an armature for opening said breaker contacts, a control relay having a coil and normally closed contacts shunting said operating coil, and a pilot relay having a ,coil and normally closed contacts shunting said control relay coil; the coils of said pilot relay and said control relay being in series in said series circuit between said terminals, whereby the line current is normally by-passed around said control relay coil and said operating coil in combination with mechanical timing means including a variable speed escapement mechanism for delaying the opening of said control relay contacts upon energization of the control relay coil, and means including said pilot coil and an associated armature for adjusting said variable speed escapement mechanism to impart an inverse time-current characteristic to the circuit breaker.

2. A reclosing circuit breaker or the seriescurrent operated type including a pair of terminals to be connected to the line to be protected, a pair of breaker contacts and an operating coil in a series circuit between said terminals, spring means normally retaining said breaker contacts in engagement, a normally closed switch shunting said operating coil, current-responsive means for opening said normally closed shunting contacts in the event the current through the breaker exceeds a preselected value, said current-responsive means including a coil in said series circuit, mechanical timing mechanism including a variable speed escapement for delaying the opening of said shunting contacts, and a mechanism connected to said escapement and controlled by said current-responsive means for adjusting said variable speed escapement in accordance with the magnitude of an excess current through the breaker.

3. A reclosing circuit breaker as recited in claim 2, wherein said mechanism connected to said escapement includes manually adjustable means for rendering the speed of said escapement independent of the magnitude of the excess current that energizes said current-responsive means.

4. A reclosing circuit breaker as recited in claim 2 wherein said timing mechanism is normally inoperative, whereby at least the first opening or 1c the breaker contacts is effected with no delay upon the occurrence of an excess current, in combination with means actuated preceding a reclosure of said breaker contacts for rendering said timing mechanism operative to delay a subsequent opening of the breaker contacts.

5. A reclosing circuit breaker as recited in claim 2 wherein said timing mechanism is normally inoperative, whereby at least the first opening of the breaker contacts is'eflected with no delay upon the occurrence of an excess current, in combination with means for latching said breaker contacts in open position, and means controlled by said timing mechanism for releasing said latching means; said timing mechanism including means operative to delay a subsequent opening of the breaker contacts; and means for restoring said timing mechanism to its normal inoperative condition after a preselected interval in the event that the breaker current is not in excess of the preselected value upon a reclosure of the breaker contacts.

6. In a reclosing circuit breaker, a pair of normally closed contacts, means responsive to a predetermined current condition to open said contacts, spring means tending to reclose said contacts, and mechanical time-delay means including a single escapement mechanism having a ratchet wheel and a pair of pawls engageable with the teeth of said ratchet wheel, a connection from one of said pawls to said means operable when said one of said pawls engages the teeth of said ratchet wheel to control the time of response of said means following the initiation of said predetermined current initiation for delaying the opening of said contacts by said first-mentioned means and a connection to the other of said pawls operable when said other of said pawls engages the teeth of said ratchet wheel for controlling the reclosing of said contacts by said spring means.

'7. In a reclosing circuit breaker, the invention as recited in claim 6, wherein said escapement mechanism includes means adjustable as to position to control the speed thereof, and said firstmentioned means includes means for positioning said adjustable means of the escapement mechanism in accordance with the magnitude of the excess current to impart an inverse time-current characteristic to the circuit breaker.

8. A reclosing circuit breaker including a pair of breaker contacts, spring means normally retaining said breaker contacts in engagement, current-responsive means including a series opening coil for opening said breaker contacts-against the force of said spring means in the event of an abnormal current condition, timing means for determining the interval between the initiation of the abnormal current condition and the opening of said breaker contacts by said current-responsive means, latch means operable upon an opening of said breaker contacts to prevent reclosure thereof by said spring means, and timedelay mechanism for rendering said. latch means inoperative; said timing means and time-delay mechanism having in common a single escapement mechanism.

9. In a reclosing circuit breaker, the invention as recited in claim 8 wherein said timing means is normally disconnected from said escapement mechanism, whereby at least the first opening of said breaker contacts is not delayed by said timing means, and said time delay mechanism includes means operative to displace a coupling 17 to connect said timing 'escapement mechanism.

element into pmltion means to sai 10. In a reclosing circuit breaker, the invention as recited in claim 8 wherein said timing means and said time-delay mechanism each include means manually adjustable todetermine the time-delay characteristic thereof independently of the time-delay characteristic of the other.

11. In a reclosing circuit breaker, the invention as recited in claim 8 wherein said escapement mechanism includes means for adjusting the speed thereof, and said current-responsive means includes means for actuating said adjusting means to impart an inverse time-current characteristic to the circuit breaker.

12. In a reclosing circuit breaker, a pair of breaker contacts, a spring normally retaining said breaker contacts in engagement, a normally de-energized opening coil for separating said breaker contacts against the force exerted by said spring, a switch controlling the energization of said opening coil, a linkage for actuating said controlling switch between and positions corresponding respectively to normal de-energized and to energized condition of said opening coil, a control coil and a cooperating armature having a yielding coupling to said linkage, said yielding coupling comprising a stop on said armature and a spring biasing an element of said linkage towards engagement with said stop, means normal ly latching said linkage against movement to actuate said switch out of its end position corresponding to the normal de-energized condition of the opening coil, and time-delay means for controlling the movement of said linkage by said armature; said time-delay means including a ratchet wheel coupled to an escapement mechanism, a pawl cooperating with said ratchet wheel, a link carrying said pawl and pivoted to a second link spring-connected to said armature for movement towards the stop thereof upon movement of said armature toward said control coil, and means movable by one of said links to release said latching means.

13. In a reclosing circuit breaker, the invention as recited in claim 12 wherein said pawl is normally spaced from said ratchet wheel and movable into engagement therewith upon movement of said links by said armature, and said ratchet wheel has a non-toothed portion for engagement by said pawl upon movement of said links by the armature on its first movement by an abnormal current in said control coil.

14. In a. reclosing circuit breaker, the invention as recited in claim 12 wherein said pawl is normally spaced from said ratchet wheel and movable into engagement therewith upon movement of said links by said armature, and said ratchet wheel has a non-toothed portion for engagement by said pawl upon movement of said links by the armature on its first movement by an abnormal current in said control coil, in combination with spring means for returning said ratchet wheel to normal position.

-15. In a reclosing circuit breaker as recited in claim 12, in combination with latch means for retaming said breaker contacts in open position when separated by said opening coil, and delay means for releasing said latch means; said delay means including a link pivoted to said spring-connected link and carrying a pawl for rotating said ratchet wheel in the same direction as said first pawl.

16. In a reclosing circuit breaker as recited in claim 12, in combination with latch means for retaining said breaker contacts in open position when separated by said opemng coil, delay means for releasing said latch means; said delay means including a link pivoted to said spring-connected link and carrying a pawl for rotating said ratchet wheel in the sam direction as said first pawl, and lockout means including a toothed wheel movable with said ratchet wheel and a cooperating pawl member.

17. In a reclosing circuit breaker as recited in claim 12, in combination with latch means for retaining said breaker contacts in open position when separated by said opening coil, delay means for releasing said latch means; said delay means including a link pivoted to said spring-connected link and carrying a pawl for rotating said ratchet wheel in the same direction as said first pawl, lockout means including a toothed wheel movable with said ratchet wheel member, means for releasing said pawl member from said toothed wheel substantiall simultaneously with a movement of said armature to move said linkage to actuate said controlling switch to energize said opening coil.

18. In a reclosing circuit breaker as recited in claim 12, in combination with latch means for retaining said breaker contacts in open position when separated by said opening coil, delay means for releasing said latch means; said delay means including a link pivoted to said spring-connected link and carrying a pawl for rotating said ratchet wheel in the same direction as said first pawl, lockout means including a toothed wheel movable with said ratchet wheel, and a cooperating pawl member, and manually controlled means to latch said contacts in open position and simultaneously to release said pawl member from said toothed wheel of the lockout means, and spring means to reset said ratchet wheel to normal position upon such release of said pawl member.

19. In a reclosing circuit breaker, a pair of breaker contacts, a rod carrying one contact and spring biased to retain said contacts in engagement, an opening coil in series with said contacts and having an armature secured to said rod, a normally closed control switch connected across said opening coil, a control coil in series with said breaker contacts and cooperating armature movable thereby under predetermined abnormal current conditions, and means yieldingly coupled to said armature for actuating said control switch; said last means comprising stop means on said armature, a pair of independently movable links and spring means biasing the same towards said stop means, a linkage connected between one of said links and said control switch to actuate the same, means latching said linkage against movement to open said control switch, meansconnected to the other link for releasing said latching means, and a mechanical timing mechanism connected to said other link for determining the time interval between a spring-biasing of said other link by movement of said control coil armature and the displacement of said other link to actuate said releasing means.

20. In a reclosing circuit breaker, the invention as recited in claim 19, in combination with a. latch for retaining said rod in contact-open position, latch-releasing means operable by said linkage upon the return thereof to close said control switch by said control coil armature, and means including said other link and said timing mechanism for delaying said return of the linkage by the control coil armature.

and a cooperating pawl 21. In a reclosing circuit breaker, a pair of breaker contacts, a rod carrying one contact and spring biased to retain said contacts in engagement, an opening coil in series with said contacts and having an armature secured to said rod, a normally closed said opening coil, a control coil in series with said breaker contacts and cooperatin armature movable thereby under predetermined abnormal current conditions, and means yieldingly coupled to said armature for actuating said control switch; said last means comprising stop means on said armature, a pair of independently movable links and spring means biasing the same towards said stop means, a linkage connected becontrol switch connected acros s/ tween one of said links and said control switch to actuate the same, means latching said linkage against movement to open said control switch, means connected to the other link for releasing said latching means, mechanical timing mechanism including a ratchet wheel coupled to an escapement device, an opening-timing link connected to said other link and carrying a pawl for cooperation with said ratchet wheel, means releasing said pawl from said ratchet wheel when said other link is in normal position, and a spring for resetting said ratchet wheel to a preselected normal position upon release of said pawl therefrom.

22. In a reclosing circuit breaker, the invention as recited in claim 21 wherein said ratchet wheel has an untoothed portion for engagement by said pawl upon the first movement of said control armature and links in response to abnormal current, whereby said timing mechanism does not delay the first opening of said control switch by said control coilarmature and associated linkage.

23. In a reclosing circuit breaker, the invention as recited in claim 21, n combination with a latch for retaining said rod in contact-separated position, latch-releasing means operable by said linkage upon movement thereof to reclose said control switch by the return movement of said control coil armature, a closing-time link connected [to said other link and carrying a pawl for rotating said ratchet wheel in the same direction as said first pawl, and means releasing said second pawl from the ratchet wheel when said other link is restored to normal position.

24. In a reclosing circuit breaker, the invention as recited in claim 21, in combination with a latch for retaining said rod in contact-separated position, latch-releasing means operable by said linkage upon movement thereof to reclose said control switch by the return movement of said control coil armature, a closing-time link connected to said other link and carrying a pawl for rotating said ratchet wheel in the same direction as said first pawl, means releasing said second pawl from the ratchet wheel when said other link is restored to normal position, and means including a toothed wheel coupled to said ratchet wheel and a cooperating pawl member for locking said breaker contacts in separated condition in the event of a preselected number of opening operations in a limited time interval.

25. In a reclosing circuit breaker, a pair of breaker contacts, a rod carrying one contact and spring biased to retain the contacts in engagement, current-responsive means for moving said rod to open said contacts, timing mechanism including a single escapement mechanism for delaying the opening and reclosing of the contacts, said mechanism including a ratchet wheel and pawls for rotating the same in the same direction, a spring for resetting said ratchet wheel, lockout means including a toothed wheel connected to said ratchet wheel and a cooperating pawl memher for locking said wheels against rotation by said reclosing-time pawl, and manually operable means for locking said rod against contact-reclosing movement and simultaneously releasing said pawl member from said toothed wheel, thereby permitting resetting of said timing mechanism to normal condition by said spring.

26. In a reclosing circuit breaker, a pair of breaker contacts, a movable rod carrying one of said contacts and spring-biased to retain said contacts in engagement, an armature secured to said rod, an opening coil cooperating with said armature to move said rod to open said contacts, a normally closed control switch connected across said opening coil, a linkage movable to open said control switch, current-responsive means including a control coil in series with said breaker contacts and an armature coupled to said linkage for opening said control switch under predetermined current conditions, latch means for latching said rod against reclosing movement when actuated by said opening coil and armature to open said contacts, and means carried by said linkage to release said latch means upon resetting of said linkage; said linkage including a spring-pressed telescoping connection to said control switch, whereby said control switch may be fully closed prior to the release of said latch means by the release means of said linkage.

27. In a reclosing circuit breaker, the invention as recited in claim 26, wherein said control coil armature is yieldingly coupled to said linkage; in combination with timing means for delaying the movement of said linkage to open said control switch and for delaying the resetting of said linkage to reclose said control switch; said timing means including an escapement device, a ratchet wheel coupled to said escapement device by a gear train, resetting spring means tending to retain said ratchet wheel in a preselected normal position, an opening-time pawl and a closing-time pawl each normally spaced from said ratchet wheel, and links carrying said pawls and connected together for simultaneous movement, a yielding connection between said pawl links and said control coil armature, said pawls being located and directed to drive said ratchet wheel in the same direction and in alternation as said pawl links are moved from and returned to normal position by said control coil armature.

28. In a reclosing circuit breaker, the invention as recited in claim 26, wherein said control coil armature is yieldingly coupled to said linkage; in combination with timing means for delaying the movement of said linkage to open said control switch and for delaying the resetting of said linkage to reclose said control switch; said timing means including an escapement device, a ratchet wheel coupled to said escapement device by a gear train, resetting spring means tending to retain said ratchet wheel in a preselected normal position, an opening-time pawl and a closingtime pawl each normally spaced from said ratchet wheel, and links carrying said pawls and connected together for simultaneous movement, a yielding connection between said pawl links and said control coil armature, said pawls being located and directed to drive said ratchet wheel in the same direction and in alternation as said pawl links are moved from and returned to normal cooperating opening-time and reclosing-time 7 position by said control coil armature; and lock- 21 out means including a toothed wheel coupled to means including a mechanism, means controlled by said currentresponsive means for adjusting the speed of said spaced from said ratchet wheel, and links carrying said pawls and connected together for simultaneous movement, a yielding connection between said pawl links and said control coil armature, said pawls being located and directed ratchet wheel in the same direction and in alternation as said pawl links are moved from and returned to normal position by said control coil armature.

30. In a circuit breaker, a pair of breaker con-- tacts spring-biased towards engagement, an opening coil and cooperating armature for opening said breaker contacts, a control coil and a pilot coil in series with said breaker contacts and said opening coil, a normally closed control switch shunted across said opening coil and operable to open position by said control coil, and a normally closed pilot switch shunted across said control coil and operable to open position by an armature of said pilot coil; said pilot switch comprising a fixed contact, a movable contact spring biased for engagement with said fixed contact, and a lost-motion connection of said pilot coil armature to said movable contact, whereby vibration of the pilot coll armature as the breaker current approaches breaker-opening value is not translated into a chattering of the pilot switch contacts.

31. In a reclosing circuit breaker, the combination with a pair of breaker contacts, currentresponsive means including a pilot coil and opening coil in series with said breaker contacts for opening the same in the event of a preselected abnormal current, said pilot coil having an armature controlling means for opening a normally closed control switch connected across said opening coil, and variable speed time-delay means for delaying the opening of said control switch, of means including an auxiliary armature controlled by said pilot coil for adjusting said time-delay means; said time-delay means includin a shaft carrying an eccentric roller, a verge cooperating with said roller, an angularly movable arm pivotally supporting said verge for rocking movement, a radially slotted flywheel on a shaft parallel to said first shaft, said verge having an end extending beyond its pivot and carrying a pin extending into said slot, spring means biasing said arm to position said pin adjacent the inner end of said slot, motion-transmitting means connecting said auxiliary armature and said arm for movement of the latter against the force exerted by said biasing spring means, a spring having one end secured to said flywheel and a free end extending freely through a shaft mounted on said pin, said free end of the spring extending radially beyond the circumference ofsaid flywheel, wherethe flywheel slot.

32. In a reclosing circuit breaker, the invention as recited in claim 31, wherein said means for adjusting said time-delay means includes an adjustable spring means biasing said auxiliary armature to open armature position, and said motion-transmitting means includes a one-way mechanical connection for transmitting closing motion of said auxiliary armature to said angularly movable arm of the time-delay means, said one-way mechanical connection rendering said angularly movable arm non-responsive to said biasing spring means in the opening movement of said auxiliary armature.

33. In a self-contained recloser having a fixed contact and a movable contact operating mechanism, including a movable contact, and having an engaged position in which said contacts are engaged, and a disengaged position in which said contacts are disengaged, biasing means operating on said movable contact for biasing said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact, an electromagnet in series with said movable and fixed contacts of said contact mechanism and energizable by fault currents for instantaneously operating said movable contact against the action of said biasing means to its disengaged position, said biasing means being operative following disengagement of said contacts for operating said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact following circuit interruption, a time delay mechanism normally ineffective to control the time of operation of said movable contact and a force transmitting means to said time delay mechanism actuated by the forces derived from the fault current which efiected instantaneous opening of said contacts for operating said time delay mechanism before re-engagement of said contacts for rendering said time delay operative to delay said electromagnet operation of said contacts to disengagement in response to a fault current condition on re-engagement of said contacts.

34. In a self-contained recloser having a fixed contact and a movable contact operating mechanism including a movable contact, and having an engaged position in which said contacts are engaged, and a disengaged position in which said contacts are disengaged, biasing means operating on said movable contact for biasing said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact, an electromagnet in series with said movable and fixed contacts of said contact mechanism and energizable by fault current for instantaneously operating said movable contact against the action of said biasing means to its disengaged position, said biasing means being operative following disengagement oi said contacts for operating said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact following circuit interruption, a time delay mechanism normally inefiective to control the time of operation of said movable contact and a control device for controlling the operation of said time delay mechanism, activated by the fault current which resulted in the instantaneous disengagement of said contacts, for. rendering said time delay mechanism operative before re-engagement of said contacts'for rendering said time delay operative to delay said electromagnet operation of said contacts to disengagement in response'to a fault current condition on re-engagement of said contacts and said bias operation of said contacts to engagement.

35. In a self-contained recloser having a fixed contact and a movable contact operating mechanism including a movable contact, and having an engaged position in which said contacts are engaged, and a disengaged position in which said contacts are disengaged, biasing means operating on said movable contact for biasing said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact, an electromagnet in series with said movable and fixed contacts of said contact mechanism and energizable by fault currents for instantaneously operating said movable contact against the action of said biasing means to its disengaged position, said biasing means being operative following disengagement of said contacts for operating said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact following circuit interruption; a time delay mechanism normally ineffective to control the time of operation of said movable contact and activated by the fault current which resulted in the instantaneous disengagement of said contacts during the period before a re-engagement of said contacts for rendering said time delay operative to delay, for a predetermined interval, said electromagnet operation of said contacts to disengagement in response to a fault current condition on re-engagement of said contacts and said bias operation of said contacts to engagement.

36. In a self-contained recloser having a fixed contact and a movable contact, said movable contact having an engaged position in which it engages said fixed contact and a disengaged position in which it disengages said fixed contact, a movable arm carrying said movable contact, biasing means normally biasing said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact, an operating magnet in series with said movable and fixed contacts and energizable by fault currents for instantaneously operating said movable contact against the action of said biasing means to its disengaged position, a by-pass circuit extending around said operating magnet for normally rendering said operating magnet non-responsive to currents in the line being protected by said recloser, a control magnet connected in series with said operating magnet and by-pass circuit and having an armature operable in response to the energization of said control magnet by fault currents for opening the said bypass circuit around said operating magnet to render said operating magnet responsive to fault currents, said biasing means being operative to effect re-engagement of said contacts, a time delay mechanism, a latch for said by-pass circuit opening armature and a latch for said movable arm for holding said movable arm against the action of said biasing means, means controlled by said time delay mechanism following the re-engagement of said contacts for operating said latch on said by-pass circuit after an interval of time to permit said control magnet to operate its armature in response to a persistent fault current to open said by-pass circuit, said operating magnet being thereupon energized to operate said contacts to disengaged position, and means controlled by said time delay mechanism for operating said latch for said movable arm after an interval of time to permit re-engagement of said contact by said contact engaging biasing means.

3'1. In a self-contained recloser having a fixed contact and a movable contact, said movable contact having an engaged position in which it engages said fixed contact and a disengaged position in which it disengages said fixed contact, a movable arm carrying said movable contact, biasing means normally biasing said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact, an operating magnet in series with said movable and fixed contacts and energizable by fault currents for instantaneously operating said movable contact against the action of said biasing means to its disengaged position, a by-pass circuit extending around said operating magnet for normally rendering said operating magnet non-responsive to currents in the line being protected by said recloser, a control magnet connected in series with said operating magnet and by-pass circuit and having an armature operable in response to the energization of said control magnet by fault currents for opening the said by-pass circuit around said operating magnet to render said operating magnet responsive to fault currents, said biasing means being operative to effect re-engagement of said contacts, a time delay mechanism and a connection from said control magnet armature to said time delay mechanism, said time delay mechanism through said connection controlling the operation of said control magnet armature to control the time of operation of said control magnet armature to control the time of opening of said by-pass circuit after a reclosing operation whereupon said operating magnet is effective to re-open said contacts in response to a fault current.

38. In a self-contained recloser having a fixed contact and a movable contact, said movable contact having an engaged position in which it engages said fixed contact and a disengaged position in which it disengages said fixed contact, a movable arm carrying said movable contact, biasing means normally biasing said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact, an operating magnet in series with said movable and fixed contacts and energizable by fault currents for instantaneously operating said movable contact against the action of said biasing means to its disengaged position, a by-pass circuit extending around said operating magnet for normally rendering said operating magnet non-responsive to currents in the line being protected by said recloser, a control magnet connected in series with said operating magnet and by-pass circuit and having an armature operable in response to the energization of said control magnet by fault currents for opening the said by-pass circuit around said operating magnet to render said operating magnet responsive to fault currents, said biasing means being operative to effect reengagement of said contacts, a time delay mechanism normallyinefiective to control the time of operation of said control magnet, means following disengagement of said contacts for rendering said time delay mechanism effective, a connection from said armature of said control ma net to said time delay mechanism, means including said connection controlled by said time delay mechanism following a re-engagement of said contacts for controlling the time of operation, in response to a fault current on re-engagement of said contacts, of said by-pass armature contacts to open position.

Images